Sanu Sherpa nears historic triple summit of all 8,000-meter peaks
With 45 successful ascents and just four peaks remaining, Sanu Sherpa is on the verge of becoming the first person in history to triple summit all 14 of the world’s highest mountains.
PC: Photo: Sanu Sherpa
Renowned Nepali climber Sanu Sherpa is close to setting a world record as the first person to climb all 14 of the world’s highest peaks three times
On May 23, he successfully reached the summit of Mount Kanchenjunga, moving one step closer to this historic feat.
Sanu has already completed the 14-peak challenge once in 2019, becoming the third Nepali to do so after Mingma Sherpa and Chhang Dawa Sherpa, who finished the challenge in 2011 and 2013, respectively.
British-Nepali climber Nimsdai Purja joined the exclusive club shortly after Sanu, completing all 14 summits in a record time of six months and six days.
In 2022, Sanu completed double ascents of all 14 peaks, a feat Nimsdai matched in 2024. Now, Sanu is just four summits away from completing a third round, which would make him the first person in history to achieve triple ascents of all 14 of the world’s highest mountains.
In the same spirit of pushing limits, Nimsdai has also launched his “Hat Trick Challenge”, aiming for his own triple ascents. He began the challenge with a successful summit of Kanchenjunga.
Nimsdai has dedicated this attempt to a charitable cause—raising funds to build a porter house and provide education scholarships for children in the Khumbu region.
Originally from Shankhuwasabha district, he has always viewed mountaineering not as a competition but as his profession. “I am not chasing any record. I just focus on doing my job the best I can,” he said.
Having completed 45 ascents of 8,000-meter peaks, Sanu is among the most sought-after guides in the mountaineering world. His unmatched reliability and success in all conditions have made him a trusted leader for high-altitude expeditions.
This season alone, Sanu has summited four 8,000-meter peaks -- Annapurna on April 7, Everest on May 15, Lhotse on May 16 and Kanchenjunga on May 23 -- all while guiding teams from 8K Expeditions.
Only four summits now remain for Sanu to claim the record: Shishapangma, Cho Oyu, Makalu, and Dhaulagiri.
